Union workers file federal civil rights charges against Cretex

Fifteen members of Laborers Local 563 filed Federal civil rights charges with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) against Cretex for its treatment of Latino workers.

Members of Local 563 who work at Cretex’ Shakopee concrete plant have been on the picket lines since June 19 when they went on strike to protest company plans to slash retirement benefits. The group filing the class-wide civil rights charges with the EEOC includes both immigrants from Mexico and U.S.-born Latinos. All 15 employees say that they have been subjected to ongoing harassment, intimidation, and unequal treatment including being insulted by supervisors and coworkers who are reported to have said, “Mexicans have no brains” and “Mexicans are too stupid to use computers.” The workers also claim they were harassed for speaking to one another in Spanish during breaks.

The 15 also claim immigrant workers at the facility are assigned more difficult and dangerous work, and disciplined more frequently and more harshly than their peers. The workers said they faced intimidation through threats of firing and, in some cases, threats to the person and property.

“It is sad to think that in 2013, employees would be mistreated because of their race, ethnicity or national origin,” said Tim Mackey, business manager for Local 563. “This type of treatment cannot be tolerated, and we intend to demand contract language that protects all of our members from discrimination, harassment, and intimidation.”

According to the Union, negotiations broke down on June 18, when Cretex refused to budge from its demand to eliminate pension contributions and slash workers’ retirement package by roughly 80 percent. Under the company’s proposal, employees would see hourly compensation (wage plus retirement contribution) drop by anywhere from $2.91 and $4.07 in 2013 depending on an employee’s age and the amount he or she puts into the company’s 401(k) plan.

Julio Ocampo Sanchez, a 3-year employee at the plant said he and his fellow Latino co-workers reached their breaking point when the company evidently promoted the most abusive person in the plant.

“We just try to do our jobs and stay out trouble because we’re working toward our pension. Then they threaten to take it away, and suddenly the worst offender is wearing the red hat they give out to leads. It feels like a deliberate slap in the face,” said Ocampo Sanchez.

Local 563 has reached out to a Federal mediator to facilitate a meeting with the company over the proposed anti-discrimination language.

“We are asking Cretex to come back to the bargaining table to discuss a solution to the issues facing our Latino members,” said Mackey. “While we remain far apart on the pension issue, there is no reason we can’t find common ground on efforts to prevent future discrimination and pave the way for an eventual settlement.”

Local 563 is organizing a rally at the Shakopee plant, 7070 Cretex Ave. S., to take place Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m.

“We aren’t going to quit this fight,” said Mackey. “We are in this until our workers are satisfied with their benefits and the treatment they receive in the workplace.”